Europe at a crossroads
Defend the Cross - on John Paul II's Monument - in France and across Europe!
Defend the Cross - on John Paul II's Monument - in France and across Europe!
Last week, the Supreme Administrative Court in France (the French Council of State) ordered a cross to be removed from the memorial of Pope John Paul II, located in a public square in Brittany, in the village of Ploërmel.
This decision shook the whole of Europe, and not just Catholics.
The eight-meter, bronze memorial statue of John Paul II, with the Gospel words, "Do not be afraid," and an arc with a cross, was to be removed as a result of a lower court decision in Rennes (France), in 2015.
However, on appeal, the French Supreme Court then ruled that the memorial statue of the Pope, which was built in 2006, could remain in place, but that the cross should be removed because they claimed that it is, "an ostentatious religious symbol."
This ruling was made on the basis of the strict French secularism law of 1905.
The statue of Pope John Paul II, who stood at the head of the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005, was created by the Russian sculptor Zurab Cereteli. And, the artist has said that he is against any intervention which will deform the monument. An arc with a cross is an integral part of the work.
Sadly, after Iraq and Syria, it is in France, which is at the heart of Western Europe, where crosses are now being removed.
But, this case has wider implications for Europe, and "the secularisation of the state" - as described by Poland’s prime minister, Beata Szydło.
Therefore, in a petition addressed to representatives of the main political groups of the European Parliament, the EPP and the ECR, we oppose the removal of the cross from public space, and, at the same time, ask our political leaders to be mindful (and, respect) the Christian roots of Europe.
Please help us prevent such censorship of Christian art in the public square, and support a petition addressed to competent authorities in France and the EU.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2017/11/01/french-court-orders-cross-removed-statue-john-paul-ii/
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Sign this petition now!
Defend the Cross - on John Paul II's Monument in France - and across Europe!
For the Kind Attention of:
- Leader of the ECR Group - Mr Syed Kamall
- Leader of the EPP Group - Manfred Weber
I express my deep disapproval of the attempt to remove the symbol of the cross from the public square, in connection with the decision of the French Council of State to remove the cross from a statue of St John Paul II, in the French village of Ploërmel.
I want to remind you that the cross reminds us of Europe's Christian heritage.
Any attempt to censor public space by removing this symbol, synonymous with Europe's identity and culture, is a manifestation of separation from its foundation.
As one of the founding fathers of a united Europe, Robert Schumann, stated: "Democracy will be Christian or not at all."
We, therefore, ask that measures be taken to ensure that the cross is kept intact on Pope St John Paul II's monument.
Defend the Cross - on John Paul II's Monument in France - and across Europe!
For the Kind Attention of:
- Leader of the ECR Group - Mr Syed Kamall
- Leader of the EPP Group - Manfred Weber
I express my deep disapproval of the attempt to remove the symbol of the cross from the public square, in connection with the decision of the French Council of State to remove the cross from a statue of St John Paul II, in the French village of Ploërmel.
I want to remind you that the cross reminds us of Europe's Christian heritage.
Any attempt to censor public space by removing this symbol, synonymous with Europe's identity and culture, is a manifestation of separation from its foundation.
As one of the founding fathers of a united Europe, Robert Schumann, stated: "Democracy will be Christian or not at all."
We, therefore, ask that measures be taken to ensure that the cross is kept intact on Pope St John Paul II's monument.
